- Riseley, George
[E] Riseley, George, organist and conductor,
born at Bristol, August 28, 1845. Chorister
in Bristol Cathedral when seven, and in 1862
articled to J. D. Corfe, the Cathedral or-
ganist. After holding several organ appoint-
ments he officiated at All Saints', Clifton,
until 1876, when he succeeded Mr. Corfe at
the Cathedral. In 1870 he was appointed
organist of Colston Hall, and his recitals
gained a high reputation. As a performer
on the organ he has also been heard at the
Royal Albert Hall, where he gave a series of
recitals in 1885. In 1877 he started the
Bristol Monday Popular Concerts of oi'ches-
tral music, which have had a wide educa-
tional influence in the West of England.
These he has carried on at great personal
sacrifice, and has introduced the most im-
portant works of all schools, including up-
wards of a hundred examples, orchestral and
choral, by British composers. From 1878 he
has been conductor of the Bristol Orpheus
Society, the fame of which he has extended.
The Society, under his direction, has given
concerts in London, 1894 and 189G ; has sung
at the Gloucester Festival, 1895; and before
the Queen, at Windsor Castle, 1895, when
Her Majesty authorised the choir to use the
prefix "Royal," and presented Mr. Riseley
with an inscribed baton. He is also con-
ductor of the Bristol Society of Instrumen-
talists, and a busy teacher. Many tokens of
the appreciation of his fellow citizens have
been bestowed upon him. He was elected
conductor of the Bristol Festival in 1896,
gaining further distinction in that important
office. In 1893 he was appointed a professor
of the organ at the R.A.M., of which Institu-
tion he is an honorary member. Of his
compositions mention may be made of a
Jubilee Ode, performed at Bristol, 1887 ; a
Jubilee March for organ ; Where'er my foot-
steps stray, and The Old Churcli Bells, part
songs for men's voices ; a Christmas Carol,
etc.entry id: 346-R-44
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